Hi, I'm Melanie

Born and raised in Utah, I love to read, eat, travel, and play. I'm on a mission right now for the Church. I'm a Mormon.

About Me

I'm 23 years old, the youngest of 8 children. I love my family to bits!

I graduated last year from college with a Bachelor's in English. I minored in Psychology and French. I love studying! I'm thinking that my next step will be to do some graduate school in editing and try to get into the publishing business.

Right now, though, that's on hold while I focus on the gospel a little more. I'm currently serving a full-time mission for the Church in New York. I'm loving the chance to learn more about the gospel as I teach it to others.

Why I am a Mormon

I was raised in the Church and taught from infancy about its beliefs. Throughout my childhood, I followed the examples of my parents and let their faith hold me to the Church, but there came a time when I really began to question everything. Was any of it true? It was a hard time and wondering about all of this made me really unhappy. Throughout that time I was still going to church and other activities, but I wasn't really studying the scriptures and I wasn't really praying. I was always wondering, doubting.

Finally, as I began to read the Book of Mormon again, I came across a verse of scripture that I had read a hundred times before, Alma 32:27 "But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words."

That seemed so powerful to me! I desired to believe. I wanted it to be true because it all seemed so sweet and peaceful. If it were true, then I was a daughter of God and could rely on His strength throughout my life. So I let that desire work in me.

The next verse reads: "Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves–it must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me."

I really had read this verse a hundred times before, but finally I GOT it. I was always taught that the Holy Ghost will testify of truth, but I finally understood that unless you begin accepting and acting on truth, there is nothing for the Holy Ghost to testify of. You have to let these teachings into your heart and then you will see the blossoms grow.

I have seen many blossoms since that time. I have felt peace and joy. I have learned so much and been uplifted so often. I have felt a stirring in my heart that I know was the Holy Ghost telling me that what I was being taught was truth. I have burned to learn more and to share what I learned.

There have been times since then when I have still doubted. Times when I thought perhaps I was just seeing and feeling what I wanted to see and feel. But feelings as STRONG as these are not native to my personality. I'm not an emotional person, so why would I swell inside at these words from the scriptures? I'm not prone to heartburn, so why do I feel a fire inside my chest EVERY time I testify that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored for us? I don't like to approach strangers, so why would I go on a mission for the Church to share the gospel with anyone who will listen?

I may have been born into this Church, but I have by no means followed blindly. I know for myself that it is true.

Personal Stories

Can you talk about the missions of the Church and your participation in them?

I love the quote from George Bernard Shaw: "This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap the being a force of Nature, instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."

Missionary work is exhausting. Everyday I get up early and spend as much time as I can talking to people about the Church and God's plan for each of us. I talk to so many people who aren't interested! But every now and then, we find someone who has been searching for truth. These are people who are willing to ask God and find out for themselves. And we get to see their lives change! We get to see them find real peace and happiness!

Please share your feelings/testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel.

I don't blame anyone for not believing Joseph Smith's story. I know it sounds crazy. But it's true. I've been on all sides of the issue, wondering if Joseph lied, wondering if he was crazy, wondering if God even exists. But the promise is that if we pray about it and ask God Himself, He will answer us. I know that promise is real. I prayed, and God answered me. I know that this Church is His Church. I know that it's teachings are His teachings, and that they will bless my life with purpose and peace.

I'm so grateful that God spoke to that young boy and prepared him to teach the doctrine of Jesus Christ, things that had been changed or lost over time were brought back because God loves all His children.

How I live my faith

I become more and more committed to the gospel every day. I've found that I'm happiest when I try every day to strengthen my testimony.

I read the Book of Mormon. I drink from its pages so that I can learn more about my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I strive to understand how the Spirit works with men and women so that I can better recognize it in my own life. I also study the Bible and the teachings given to those prophets of old, the teachings of Christ to his disciples in Jerusalem.

I bear my testimony. This is something I haven't done enough in the past. Now, as a missionary, I get to do it every day, and I rejoice in that. I'm so happy to tell people that I know that Jesus Christ made it possible for me to repent, that I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God.

I follow the teachings of the prophets. Sometimes this makes me the odd one out in a group. Mormons really are a peculiar people. But I know that these teachings protect me and allow me to be closer to my Heavenly Father.

I go to Church each week to take the Sacrament and to share my faith with other members of the Church, and through this I am strengthened.

Why do Mormon missionaries proselyte?

Melanie answered...

In John 21:17 it reads: "He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep."

If we love the Lord, we are commanded to "feed his sheep". Mormon missionaries proselyte so that they can share spiritual nourishment with all of God's children, bringing those sheep who have wandered back into the fold. We do it because we love the Savior and wish to follow all his teachings.

But we also do it because it is the desire of our own hearts to see others feeling the joy of the gospel. In the Book of Mormon, Mosiah 28:3 reads: "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

Because we know that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and that He wants us to live with Him again, we know that every soul is precious and important to Him, and we want them all to return.
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Nick answered...

Our decision to serve missions is motivated by our belief in the Gospel and our desire to fulfill the Savior's command to "preach the gospel to every creature" Mark 16:15. The Gospel teaches us that we are all sons and daughters of God, and so we feel a kinship with all of God's children and a desire to help them enjoy the peace in this life that the Gospel provides.Our missionaries are not salesman and won't take much of your time, but I know that your decision to invite them into your home will change your life for good!

What is the Relief Society?

Dave answered...

Established in 1842 for women 18 years old and older, the Relief Society is the oldest and largest women's organization in the world. The motto: “Charity never faileth.” President Julie B. Beck has taught us: “Relief Society should be organized, aligned, and mobilized to strengthen families and help our homes to be sacred sanctuaries from the world. I learned this years ago when I was newly married. My parents, who had been my neighbors, announced that they would be moving to another part of the world... This was before e-mail, fax machines, cell phones, and Web cameras, and mail delivery was notoriously slow. One day before she left, I sat weeping with her and asked, ‘Who will be my mother?’ Mother thought carefully, and with the Spirit and power of revelation which comes to women of this kind, she said to me, ‘If I never come back, if you never see me again, if I’m never able to teach you another thing, you tie yourself to Relief Society. Relief Society will be your Mother.’ Mother knew that if I were sick, the sisters would take care of me, and when I had my babies, they would help me. But my mother’s greatest hope was that the sisters in Relief Society would be powerful, spiritual leaders for me. I began from that time to learn abundantly from women of stature and faith.” (Daughters in My Kingdom, Pages 96-98.)

I have learned that the women of the Relief Society build faith and personal righteousness and help those in need. They have strengthened my family and my home.